– Pakistan represents about 48% of people living in extreme poverty across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region. The World Bank reported the figure in its October 2026 regional economic update. The lender measured poverty using the
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted India’s water governance experience as a useful reference for countries across the Global South. He shared an article on October 6 that reviewed reforms developed first in Gujarat and later expanded through national
– The African Union has formally launched the Africa Credit Rating Agency, known as AfCRA, in Mauritius. The agency will provide credit assessments for African sovereigns, companies, financial institutions and other issuers. Its launch took place in Port Louis during
– Pakistan’s federal state-owned enterprises held about $36.5 billion in debt at the end of December 2025. The total increased 14.3% from a year earlier, adding roughly $4.7 billion at current exchange rates. Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance reported the figures
– The UAE recorded $63.353 billion in outward foreign direct investment during 2025, according to UN Trade and Development. The country’s total outward FDI stock reached $402.729 billion at the end of the year. That figure stood at $55.560 billion
– Pakistan raised petrol prices again on October 6, extending an increase announced three days earlier. Petrol climbed by Rs0.88 to Rs393.64 per litre under the latest fuel revision. High-speed diesel fell by Rs1.88 to Rs397.76 per litre. The move
– Oil prices traded near $102 a barrel on Monday after an early jump pushed Brent above $103. Brent crude futures stood at $102.30 a barrel at 0900 GMT, up 5 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $90.62,
– Renault Group plans to invest more than €10 billion in France over the next five years. Chief Executive François Provost announced the commitment on October 3. The spending will support electric vehicles and lower-cost models. Renault made about 500,000
Travel
– Air Arabia will start nonstop flights from Sharjah International Airport to Amman City Airport on November 15, 2026. The carrier will operate the route four times a week. The service will add another direct connection between the United Arab
– Air Arabia will restart daily nonstop flights between Ras Al Khaimah and Kozhikode on October 16, 2026. The service restores a direct connection between the UAE emirate and the southern Indian state of Kerala. Bookings are already available through
– flydubai presented its growing Levant route network at the Syria Travel Show in Damascus as the regional low-cost carrier expands direct connectivity between the United Arab Emirates and key Syrian commercial hubs. Participating in the event hosted under the
Dubai-based flag carrier Emirates has entered the northern winter travel period with robust forward booking metrics across its international network, outpacing initial corporate projections. The performance follows a high-density summer operational cycle during which the airline transported more than 8.6